A lot of people hate on baofeng because it’s a Chinese company I think. Anyways I’ll say this, I started with a baofeng and learned there. It’s under $40 and at least let’s you get your feet wet. Download “Chirp” software (free) and pick up a usb programming cable for it off Amazon. You can program your area’s frequencies in with a few clicks. Using Chirp with a “radioreference.com” account lets you add even emergency frequencies and local businesses.
So really even if you don’t get licensed (which means you can’t talk) you can still listen and stay locally informed for less than $60 with a baofeng. All you have to learn how to do is scan. I setup a mobile antenna on my vehicle and use a baofeng when I drive around sometimes.
The next step up without getting into HF would be a YAESU FTM-7250. It can transmit at 50w when on high I believe. Also has “WIRES X” so you can talk across the globe while you drive around. Weather alerts, group monitoring (so you can get notified when a friend comes within communication range).
Some of these new radios can even send texts to phone numbers via radio waves. You can bounce signals off the moon. It’s a fun hobby with many avenues depending on what you want to do. You can even use SSTV with a computer to send images through radio waves, so we can even still send dank ass memes!
EDIT: I could organize a handful of simplex freaquencies on 2m and 70cm and have people DM me for vetting. Could help find local TDW near you. Just be careful, once you get a callsign people can look it up publicly and have your info from the FCC database. You can however use a PO Box for added safety, but you must have this address setup before you register with the FCC. The last address used before changing will still show on the database. So sign up from the get go with a PO Box.
I have that one. I put it on my desk with a 12v 20a power supply. You can also use it mobile on your car. The automatic weather alerts saved my life once in a snow storm, it gave me time to get food before it arrived. My phone didn’t even alert me. Funny part is I wasn’t even scanning memory channels, it just started beeping loud, I pressed a random button to stop it and the weather alert played. It’s great. There are a lot of features. They sell programming cables separate it doesn’t come with one. After that the software CHIRP will load it up with everything local for you! :)
Thanks for the info and encouragement to move forward. I have the site for Chirp bookmarked (for like 6 months) and I have the HAM Study guide sitting on my desk. I signed up for a class and testing with a local club and then they go shutdown because of the Rona. I see they are offering on-line testing now. Once I get through that I may ask for a hand locating repeaters and what not.
Can you recommend a descent hand held and a fixed setup? Not too sure about the Beofang for mobile.
A lot of people hate on baofeng because it’s a Chinese company I think. Anyways I’ll say this, I started with a baofeng and learned there. It’s under $40 and at least let’s you get your feet wet. Download “Chirp” software (free) and pick up a usb programming cable for it off Amazon. You can program your area’s frequencies in with a few clicks. Using Chirp with a “radioreference.com” account lets you add even emergency frequencies and local businesses.
So really even if you don’t get licensed (which means you can’t talk) you can still listen and stay locally informed for less than $60 with a baofeng. All you have to learn how to do is scan. I setup a mobile antenna on my vehicle and use a baofeng when I drive around sometimes.
The next step up without getting into HF would be a YAESU FTM-7250. It can transmit at 50w when on high I believe. Also has “WIRES X” so you can talk across the globe while you drive around. Weather alerts, group monitoring (so you can get notified when a friend comes within communication range).
Some of these new radios can even send texts to phone numbers via radio waves. You can bounce signals off the moon. It’s a fun hobby with many avenues depending on what you want to do. You can even use SSTV with a computer to send images through radio waves, so we can even still send dank ass memes!
EDIT: I could organize a handful of simplex freaquencies on 2m and 70cm and have people DM me for vetting. Could help find local TDW near you. Just be careful, once you get a callsign people can look it up publicly and have your info from the FCC database. You can however use a PO Box for added safety, but you must have this address setup before you register with the FCC. The last address used before changing will still show on the database. So sign up from the get go with a PO Box.
Thanks fr all the detail! I may go with the YAESU FTM-7250 for all the extr including weather and mobile.
I have that one. I put it on my desk with a 12v 20a power supply. You can also use it mobile on your car. The automatic weather alerts saved my life once in a snow storm, it gave me time to get food before it arrived. My phone didn’t even alert me. Funny part is I wasn’t even scanning memory channels, it just started beeping loud, I pressed a random button to stop it and the weather alert played. It’s great. There are a lot of features. They sell programming cables separate it doesn’t come with one. After that the software CHIRP will load it up with everything local for you! :)
Thanks for the info and encouragement to move forward. I have the site for Chirp bookmarked (for like 6 months) and I have the HAM Study guide sitting on my desk. I signed up for a class and testing with a local club and then they go shutdown because of the Rona. I see they are offering on-line testing now. Once I get through that I may ask for a hand locating repeaters and what not.
Hell yeah! I can def help you with that. Hit me up anytime in DM.
Been looking myself and had the same question
I just replied above, hope it helps. I’ll answer any questions I can. If I don’t respond DM me.
Start here to study: https://hamexam.org/
73's
I used Hamradioprep.com they had a covid class deal when that all started. Then I studied for free at hamstudy.org
🐸👍🏻 that will come in hamy.
Haha yes!
This
Good thread!
Hell yeah! Amateur radio is awesome. It’s saved my life once so far. Private VOIP nodes are completely possible with echolink, wires x, etc.